Module manager: Paul Wilson
Email: p.wilson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
DESN2948
| DESN2948 | Graphic and Communication Design: Professional Practice |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module allows students to make connections with the creative industries and internationally recognised design organisations that award student achievements. Briefs will be set in collaboration with external agencies and students will undertake insustry recognised national / international competition briefs. Students will consider the current concerns of society and engage with speculative and critical design practice. They will be encouraged to gain feedback from external agencies and organisations on their work.
This module allows students to consolidate their skills and approach to graphic and communication design by engaging with projects that reflect the current concerns of industry and society. Students will be introduced to critical and speculative design theory. The module will include engagement with industry professionals and national/international design organisations.
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Design and execute a project to a brief that is informed by the current industry or societal concerns of graphic and communication design.
2. Accurately deploy standard techniques of analysis and enquiry to inform graphic and communication design and strategy.
3. Design and execute design projects to a level that reflects professional standards and boundaries.
4. Identify, develop and evaluate design solutions through a focused process of research which is specific to the programme discipline and personal aspirations.
Through group discussion and tasks students will be expected to evaluate and critically review issues relevant to the externally set brief. Issues of broader concerns to industry and society will be introduced and the response of current academic research and the graphic and communications industry to these issues will be investigated.
Students will discuss the appropriate format and scope for their response to the project in relation to professional norms.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminars | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Practicals | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Independent online learning hours | 44 | ||
| Private study hours | 202 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 54 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Students are expected to carry out research, analyse and present findings as well as complete assignments during private study. Hours 150hrs
Students are expected to complete the set reading list – 34hrs
Students are expected to research career aspirations - 34hrs
Students are expected to further their understanding of professional graphic design 50hrs
Student progress will be monitored in the timetabled group learning through group interactive seminars, interim group critiques and specific teaching feedback slots within timetabled session.
The scope and format of assessed outcomes will be discussed and monitored to check that they are appropriate to the learning outcomes.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Practical | Project 100% containing research insights and key deliverables. | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The portfolio project submission will challenge students to engage with emerging and/or speculative concerns in industry and/or society. Students will be given critical and creative scope to identify and engage with key problems, to motivate and drive change through the use of communication and graphic design. Resits will take the form of the student choosing a different brief than previous undertaken Resits will take the form of the student choosing a different brief than previous undertaken
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team